Tech Edge
Tech EDGE: Mobile Learning in the Classroom Podcasts
Tech EDGE podcast videos are 246 ways to become the next generation teacher. Teachers are always learning new ways to improve their classroom. This resource is a great way to keep up the generations of kids moving through your classroom. Yes, technology can be distracting, or it could be a reliable resource to help make your classroom more effective. I was searching through the 246 podcasts, and there are free apps along with cheap affordable apps. These podcasts were created to make teaching a little more fun with keeping the kids engaged in a way they understand by the education program at the University of Nebraska Lincoln and Concordia University. The programs work together to make learning simple and to inform teachers so they do not have to take time to look for apps and try to figure out how to use them. This allows students to connect with teachers and classrooms to connect with the real world. These podcast are reliable sources to use in the classroom to make connections with other teachers, and for students to face global challenges. The 3 different apps I believe will help me in the classroom when I become a teacher are described below.
Properties of Matter- Pirate AdventureThis elementary app was created to help teach mainly science and a little bit of math. A group of elementary teachers worked as a team to put this app together. The team included an elementary technology teacher, an elementary science teacher, and practicing teachers. Properties of Matter was researched based on children's perspectives as well as early childhood standards and K-2nd grade standards. The app teaches 4 different types of matter that are linked on a pirate map. This pirate adventure first starts with what are properties of matter. The children can sort the different properties of matters. The children can also see weight, length, and materials the objects are made out of. In this app, there are multiple demographics to explain to the student what they need to do. The teacher can explain the purpose of the app and what they are doing to make sure there are connections made. In the younger ages, they learn if objects will sink or float. There is an option for the students to practice this. The teacher is able to edit their class' in the app to reflect what the students are learning. There is a weight game in the app to challenge students to move variables to balance the boat. The teacher can have them report what they did and why. The states of matter is presented by either solids or liquids. States and matter has a part that asks questions and makes the students think and connect what they learn. A pro about this app is there is a reflection part of the games. The con about this app is there needs to be clear explanation to why the students are using the app. It is very easy to get sucked up into the game part of this app, so teachers may need students to follow a worksheet answering questions as they go.
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Todo mathThis app is for younger elementary students and was made to increase their motivation to practice math. The fun part about this Todo Math is its set up. There are different sections you can access in the app to engage the students. One section is Daily Adventure, and this is a series of ways you can practice numbers. What I like about the app is it has multiple ways to answer. You can write the answer out, or drag the answer to the answer box. If you have a student that has difficulties with fine motor skills, this makes them able to answer and play the games. The other section called Free Choice allows students to go and practice specific math problems that connect to your lesson you are teaching. This is nice because students all have different paces of learning. They can practice the part they are still learning, or they can go to a harder section of math to be challenged. The Mission part of the app has a game setting. The student can complete a mission for homework or this can be a daily activity for the students. With this site, teachers can have parents look at their child's progress. Parents like to see their child is learning in school, or they can look at it so they know how to help them study. The con about this app is the theme is a little babyish. Students may lose motivation if the teacher does not make the app have purpose. A pro for Todo Math is students are always challenged and there is always a way for them to progress. Also, there are goals that the teacher can have parents set for their child, and students are also able to see their own progress along with the monsters and stars they have earned.
Lizard PointA nice website to have students practice maps and geography is Lizard Point. There are different sections, but there is a geography maps for Africa, Americas, Asia, Australia, and Europe. This is for grades 4th and up. The teacher can use this website as a way to test students, or have them practice. There are questions and points to earn. The question is asked, and then you click the answer. This website allows the students to see multiple maps. A teacher could use this website as a form of assessment. The students can answer the questions and write down their score. As the teacher, you can have them practice before the test each day, and then see their progress. A con about this website is the ads. You will need to address the ads as a teacher. A pro is the website has many different ways for students to learn and for them to see their answer. I explored the website and wished I had known about this when I study the states and countries. |